Share

‘Penis seats’ highlight problem with sexual harassment on public transport

accreditation

According to The New York Times the seats are part of a campaign called #NoEsDeHombres (roughly translated to “this isn’t manly”), championed by UN Women and the government of Mexico City to raise awareness about sexual harassment faced by women using public transport.

“It is annoying to travel this way, but not compared to the sexual violence women suffer in their daily commutes,” reads a sign on the the floor beneath the seat.

A video  released by the campaign called  Experimento Asiento or “an experiment with a seat” show the obvious discomfort and shock of passengers.

The campaign shows how badly women are treated daily while using public transport. And it’s not just in Mexico, it’s a global problem.

In 2015 Transport for London launched a campaign called Report it To Stop It in the hope that more would report unwanted sexual behaviour on the London Underground.

The Guardian reported that in 2016 the reporting of such crimes went up with 36% - however, this still didn’t fix the problem.

And in France, a report released in 2015 said that 100% of women said that in the past they’ve been subjected to sexual harassment while taking public transport.

Laure Salmona of the Association Mémoire Traumatique et Victimologie - a victims’ rights advocacy group - says women are used to being treated this way and “they are told they should be grateful” because it’s a compliment.

A second project called Experimento Pantallas or “experiment screens” has been launched by the Mexican government and UN Women showing shots of male buttocks – displayed on screens on the station for all to see.


We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE